Improvement in breech-loading fire-arms



W. S. SMOOT.

Breech-Loading Fire-Arm.

Patented July 1, 1869.

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To all whom it may concern fiatrnt amt.

fiinitrd fittin \VILLIAM SYDNEY SMOOT, WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, 'ASSIGNOB TO THOMAS POULTNEY, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

Item PatentNo. 90,792,- dma June 1, 1869.

IIWIPROVEMBNT IN BEECH-LOADING- FIRE-ARMS.

The schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making nan of the name.

Be it known that I, WILIZIAM SYDNEY SMooT, of Washington, District of Columbia, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Breech-Loading Fire- Arms; of which the following is a fulland exact description, reference being made to theaccompanying drawings.

In the accompanying drawings, I have shown the several modifications of the device by which I propose carrying my invention into effect.

Figures 1, 2, and 3 show respectively a vertical and horizontal projection, and longitudinal section of a gunbreech, with my improvement attached.

Figure 4 is a transverse section, and

Figures 5, 6, and 7, modifications of the same design.

flwill first describe the device shown in figs. 1, 2, 3, an 4. i

In front of the swinging breech-block O, a slot is cut into the upper side of the barrel and hinge.

This slot is-curved on the arc of a circle, described from a point above and in rear of the charge-cham- .ber, as a centre.

ln this slot is placed a plunger, a, moving in the same curve upbn which the slot is cut, under the impact of the breech-block when the latter is swung.

over in loading.

A piece is 'cut off the fixed portion of the hinge, of

...the thickness of the slot in the-barrel, and in front of this slot. The piece so removed is replaced by a disk, or plate I), of the shape shown in the drawing.

This disk I) isfirmly attached to that part of the hinge fixed to the barrel, and constitutes a part thereof, but is preferably made and attached in the manner described, on account of the inconvenience of forming the tooth 0 on the hinge itself.

A notch, n, is cut in the upper side of the plunger a, and in front of it, and bearing against the plunger, is a spiral spring f1 Operation.

When the breech is swung forward, it strikes the end of the plunger a, which moves longitudinally in a curve, its motion being'guided by the tooth 0, until the plunger reaches the end of its longitudinal move-, ment, at which time the notch or coincides in position with the tooth, and the plunger is then free to be vibrated by the spring. 7

A notch is cut in the under side of the plunger, so

I that the spring may act with full force and in a direct already started from its seat by the positive movement of the plunger.

In fig. 5 a simpler form of my device is shown. The accelerating-spring is omitted, and a shoulder, a, at t 'e upper end of the plunger, comes'in contact, when the plnngeris in its lower position, with a pin, 0, inserted transversely from the exterior of the hingestra The forward or longitudinal movement of the plupger being thus arrested, and the. notch n coming at the same time oppositethe tooth o, the plunger'- is converted into a lever, with the pin e as a fulcrum, and the power being applied on the curved head of the plunger, at the short arm of the lever, induces a rapid vibration, which ejects the shell from the chamber.

The same object may be obtained by enlarging the head of the plunger, thus forming'a shoulder, which performs the same functionas the pin 0.

Fig. 6 shows another modification of my invention, in which that part of the plunger next the cartridge has a movement nearly parallel with the axis of the barrel, while the withdrawal of the cartridge is effected -by the oblique movement of its anterior portion, and

its removal from thechamber by the action of *the p gf- I It is evident that in place of the curvilinear move ment shown, a rectilinear movement may be given the plunger a, without altering the general features of myinvention, and also that my device may be used not only with breech-blocks, swinging upward and forward, but with pivoted or swinging breeches of every description, and in connection with any of the devices now employed, such as ways on either side of the recoil-bearing or oblique-faced studs in the bottom of the barrel, for the purpose of deflecting the case, so that it may pass entirely out of the receiver. I

I know that, previous to my invention, cartridger'etractors have been made to withdraw the shell, by means of a lever swinging on the same centre with the breech, but independent thereof; also, by a stud on the hinge of the breech, and by plungers moving parallel with the axis of the barrel. All of these I disclaim.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-- The plunger a, in combination with the stud o and notch it, when arranged and operating substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

W. S. SMOOT. [L. s.]

Witnesses:

PETER RIORDAN. J onn NYGREW. 

